Optimization of Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows for Cold Chain Logistics Based on Carbon Tax

Songyi Wang, Fengming Tao, Yuhe Shi and Haolin Wen
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Songyi Wang: College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Fengming Tao: College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
Yuhe Shi: School of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
Haolin Wen: Department of Management Engineering, Naval University of Engineering, Wuhan 430033, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 5, 1-23

Abstract: In order to reduce the cost pressure on cold-chain logistics brought by the carbon tax policy, this paper investigates optimization of Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) with time windows for cold-chain logistics based on carbon tax in China. Then, a green and low-carbon cold chain logistics distribution route optimization model with minimum cost is constructed. Taking the lowest cost as the objective function, the total cost of distribution includes the following costs: the fixed costs which generate in distribution process of vehicle, transportation costs, damage costs, refrigeration costs, penalty costs, shortage costs and carbon emission costs. This paper further proposes a Cycle Evolutionary Genetic Algorithm (CEGA) to solve the model. Meanwhile, actual data are used with CEGA to carry out numerical experiments in order to discuss changes of distribution routes with different carbon emissions under different carbon taxes and their influence on the total distribution cost. The critical carbon tax value of carbon emissions and distribution cost is obtained through experimental analysis. The research results of this paper provide effective advice, which is not only for the government on carbon tax decision, but also for the logistics companies on controlling carbon emissions during distribution.

Keywords: cold-chain logistic distribution; vehicle routing problem; cycle evolutionary genetic algorithm; carbon tax; carbon footprint (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (43)

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